Darkness Into Light Walk

A massive well done to everyone from the Parish who got up early last Saturday morning and participated in the annual Darkness Into Light walk to raise money for Pieta House. The event is very symbolic with the idea that competitors will cross the finish line as the sun comes up thus overcoming the darkness and venturing forward into the light of hope! All funds raised will go towards providing essential counselling and support services for those at risk of suicide and those who self-harm. It really was an amazing sight as Monaghan Town was transformed into a sea of yellow T-shirts as the massive crowd made their way running and walking around the streets of the town with people both young and old taking part. On behalf of Rockcorry GAA well done to the organising committee, Monaghan Harps GAA, all the stewards, the civil defence and of course the local Garda for marshalling the event which I have to say ran very smoothly. It was an amazing event and once again well done to everyone for supporting a very worthy cause.

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship

After a gallant and workmanlike performance our reserve footballers bowed out of the Crawley Cup (Platinum Tanks Reserve Football Championship) when they played Doohamlet last Sunday 10th May. Unfortunately, we were missing a number of regular players due to injury and work commitments and sadly a few more players were also missing due to some inexplicable reasons! The fact that yours truly was introduced at one stage as a blood substitute for the injured Garry Thornton, who picked up a nasty cut above the eye, says a lot about caring for your elders!!! Having said that, the lads that did turn up tried their very best against a strong Doohamlet outfit and with confidence slightly low after last week’s disappointing display against Donaghmoyne we struggled to find our rhythm during the opening half and made a few unforced errors that gifted Doohamlet possession, which they gracefully accepted, and they punished us accordingly and at the break the scoreboard showed Rockcorry 0-2 Doohamlet 0-5. The team management certainly worked the oracle during the half time pep talk because after a frustrating thirty minutes the lads were more motivated, invigorated and launched themselves into the second period as they upped their work-rate and played some lovely football, given the difficult and slippery underfoot conditions, and notched up some impressive scores. Doohamlet also showed their creative side and turned on the style and with some great passing movements they tapped over some decent points to secure the victory on a final score-line Rockcorry 0-9 Doohamlet 1-12 and on behalf of the Rockcorry GAA club we wish them the very best as they progress to the next round of the competition. Please visit our official website www.rockcorry gaa.ie or our Facebook  / Flickr page to view a selection of action photographs.

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League

It was a bad day at the office for our reserve footballers who endured a heavy defeat on Wednesday 6th May when they played Donaghmoyne at Pairc Naomh Mhuire in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2A. While we were missing a number of regular players, for various reasons, the team produced arguably one of the worst display’s we have seen in a long time. Regrettably, our play was disappointing as the lads turned in a lethargic performance with some wayward shooting, vital possession being lost on several occasions and anything that could go wrong did go wrong as a fit and in form Donaghmoyne side controlled the game and secured a comprehensive victory on a score-line Rockcorry 0-5 Donaghmoyne 2-14.

Eurotech Junior Football League Fixtures

Our next outing in the league campaign is this Sunday 17th May when we host Toome at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and the game has a throw-in time of 2pm. They are back in action on Sunday 31st May they host Oram and the game has a throw-in time of 2pm.On Sunday 14th June they travel to play Eire Og and throw-in time is at 2pm.

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Fixtures

The reserve footballers will be back in action on Wednesday 20th May with a home game against Doohamlet and throw-in time is 8pm. On Saturday 6th June they play Sean McDermott’s at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and throw-in time is 7pm.

Table Quiz

The senior panel of footballers organised a table quiz last Friday 8th May in Fitzpatrick’s and the evening was a huge success and raised a nice amount of money due to the generosity of the local community. Over fifty members participated and the players have asked me to extend a sincere THANK YOU to everybody who supported and attended the quiz. Many thanks to Colm McCormick who was a great quiz master on the night, and he put a huge amount of effort into preparing great questions. Our club secretary Martina McKeown was on hand to double check the answers while our vice-chairman Anthony Tate did a cracking job looking after the scoreboard and collecting the answer sheets and many thanks to them both. After ten very interesting rounds of questions the winning team with an impressive score of 89 consisted of Paddy Mckeown, Mark McCormick, Conor McGeough and Lorcan Smyth and they generously donated first prize back to the club. The runners-up included Keith Daly, Oonagh Cusack, Mark Daly and Elaine Tate and likewise they also donated their prize back to the fund raiser and very well done to the winners and everybody that took partin the quiz. Finally, on behalf of the club I would like to thank the committee members who made sandwiches and a big thank you to the following individuals who sponsored spot prizes or made private donations Niall McKeown, Dean Fay, Paul McPhillips, Ann Carroll, Cait O’Hart, Dwayne Rooney, Anthony Clerkin, Dave McArdle, Andrew Carroll and Colin Quinn and I would just like to add the box of Ferraro Rocher went down a treat…thanks Dean!

Go Games Blitz

The under 8 footballers will get another chance to showcase their skills when they take part in a Go Games blitz this Saturday 16thMay and on this occasion will not have far to travel because it will be held at Pairc Naomh Mhuire between 10am to 12 noon and other teams will be Drumhowan, Tyholland, Clones and Currin. The next blitz for the under 10 footballers will be on Saturday 23rdMay and it will also be held at Pairc Naomh Mhuire between 10am to 12 noon. 

Gerry’s Prepared Veg – Under 12 Competitive League

The proposed under 12 competitive league structure was recently published and will begin on Saturday 16th May. We have been placed in Division 4 (11/9 a-side) alongside Aghabog, Aughnamulle, Ballybay, Corduff, Eire Og, Monaghan Harps (C ) and Oram. All under 12 games will be played over a 3 x 20 min periods. The score at the end of the second competitive period is the final score of the game. Unless agreed by both clubs and communicated to the referee prior to the start of the match, the middle period is not competitive. Goals count as three points in the Under 12 Competitive Football League and all games will commence and end with the RESPECT handshake and must include team mentors. 

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 14

Our under 14 footballers travelled to Scotshouse last Monday evening (11th May) to play Patrick Emmets in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg Division 5 league campaign. Our lads gave a spirited performance and showed impressive character but for most parts of this highly entertaining match the home side always held the upper hand and showed their extra bit of strength as they pulled away and at the interval had a 2-7 to 1-6 advantage. While our lads showed plenty of passion and commitment, throughout the second half, we struggled to convert our possession onto the scoreboard. Patrick Emmets, on the other hand, made the most of their possession and notched up an additional 1-4 to secure the victory on a score–line Patrick Emmets 3-11 Rockcorry 1-8. 

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 14 Championship

The next outing for the under 14 team will be on Saturday 23rd May when they host Doohamlet at Pairc Naomh Mhuire in the Quarter Final of the championship. The game has a throw-in time of 12 noon.

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 16

The under 16 footballers will be back in action on Thursday 14th May they travel to play Patrick Emmets and throw-in time is 7.15pm.On Thursday 21st May they travel to Threemileshouse to play Sean McDermott’s and throw-in time is 7.30pm.

Minor Football League Division 3On Tuesday 31st March the minor team will get their first taste of action when they entertain neighbours Latton in the McElvaney Recycling Minor Football League Division 3. The game is fixed for Pairc Naomh Mhuire at 6.30pm.

Our minor footballers travelled to St. Mary’s Park on Tuesday 5th May to play Castleblayney in the minor football league and while they put in a courageous performance and battled hard they sadly suffered another heavy defeat. They were scheduled to play their last game of the opening round last Tuesday evening and the competition has now reached a situation where the league will be divided into two sections with the top four teams competing for the Cup while the bottom four teams will battle it out for a shield title. I know it has been a tough and demanding league but I have no doubt that the lads will continue to do their best and will build it up again brick by brick to rise from the aches and finish their games in the competition. Well done lads.

Car Wash Fund Raiser

Last year our underage footballers swapped their football gear for waterproof gear as they washed cars to raise money for the juvenile section of the club. Such was the success of last year’s event the committee hope to announce shortly a date for this year’s fund raiser and I am glad to report that  once again Gerry & Andrea Coyle have kindly donated their facilities to accommodate the event and we sincerely thank them for their sponsorship and generosity. Please let your family and friends know and when full details are known please support this car wash fundraiser and get your car down for a proper wash and make a donation towards the juvenile section of our club and as always your support of this event will be deeply appreciated.

Free Juvenile Training Pack 

Attention all parents, juvenile players, senior players, committee members and club members please help the club get some training gear and footballs by buying the Gaelic Life Newspaper which is out every Thursday. Our coaching and games development officer Pascal Smyth has distributed information to all teams and basically you cut out the token, found on top left corner of page 2 and return it to the box in the club dressing-rooms. The target to collect is 100 tokens by Friday 22nd May. Thank you for your help. 

Car Treasurer Hunt

Scoil Mhuire Parents Association are holding a Car Treasure Hunt on Sunday 17th May. It will start from the School at 5pm and the last car leaving will be at 6pm. Refreshments will be served later in Fitzpatrick’s with the presentation of prizes at 8pm.

Happy Heart Week

It was Happy Heart Week last week but it’s never too late to donate money so please text HAPPY to 50300 and donate €4 towards a great cause. 100% of your donation goes to the Irish Heart Foundation to help fight against heart disease and stroke.

First Communion

There was some excitement and style in the Parish last Saturday morning (9th May) with plenty of fancy dresses, curly hair, fake tans, waist-coats, bow ties etc as the boys and girls from the local Primary School, Scoil Mhuire, celebrate their First Holy Communion. On behalf of the Rockcorry GAA club I hope everything went well and I wish you the very best of luck and hope you all had a great and enjoyable day.

Blackwater 10k Run & Walk

The Blackwater 10K run / walk, takes place this Sunday 17th May and takes place in the scenic and tranquil settings of Rossmore Park. It is always a really enjoyable event and usually gets a great turnout from the Rockcorry area and I look forward to seeing you there once again this year. All proceeds raised will go towards this year’s chosen charity which I understand is Special Olympics Ireland and I’m sure you will agree is a great charity. So get those runners on and I hope to see you at the start line and finish line!!!

Laura Crossan Fund Raiser Charity Event

I hope you all will be able to support this event which is in aid of Laura Crossan. It all takes place on Saturday 23rd May in the Corduff Raferagh Community Centre (Mountain Dew), starting off with a tractor run at 4pm sharp and finishing at the community centre (please note registration from 4pm). Between 5.30 – 7.30pm there will be a kids disco with lots of fund events and later on between 6 – 8pm Armageddon in the marquee followed by a Head/Beard Shave/Dye/Waxing in the main hall, which I understand local character Phillip Clarke has volunteered and a massive well done to him. The grand finale on the night will be music by the fabulous Fuzzy Burgers in the main hall and in the bar music will be performed by Yesteryear from 10pm to late. Please show you support by donating whatever you can afford and please go along to help with this very worthy cause and please feel free to share this with family and friends. Thank You.

Top 4 Lotto Results 

The numbers drawn on Monday 11th May were 2, 13, 15 and 19. There was no jackpot winner of €2,200.00. The following won €15 each :- Elaine Tate, Rockcorry, Aidan Sheridan, Rockcorry, Fabiola & Fergal, Newbliss, Bill Coffey, Cootehill, John & Dettie McBride, Aghabog, Dervla Greenan, Swans Cross, Bridie Leonard, Aghabog, Noel Craven, Clontibret (Yearly Ticket). Next week the jackpot will be €2,300.00 and the draw will take place in Thompson’s, Newbliss. Thank you supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.

Annual Top 4 Lotto Ticket

Don’t forget, you can support the club’s Top 4 lotto by entering for 12 months, 6 month or a 3 month period. To play simply select your four numbers between 1 and 28 complete the form and you need never miss a draw again! Tickets cost €90 for the 12 month option. Your continued support is always much appreciated and we wish you good luck in future draws.

News

If anyone would like to have some news, events or anything at all included in the club notes or advertised on our website then just get in touch on 086-1041165 or email pro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie